Bodog Beat

With Elton Brand slated to end a three-game absence due to injury, the Philadelphia 76ers will try to avoid a seventh straight loss when they take on the Dallas Mavericks tonight.

NBA betting lines have the Mavs favored by 10.5 points.

Even Brand might not help the 76ers against the Mavericks, who are trying to match their best start since 2006-07.

Dirk Nowitzki has averaged a career-best 27.1 points in this season’s first month and topped 30 points five times.

Dallas will try to earn its fifth straight home win over Philadelphia. The Mavericks have also won six of seven overall meetings since 2006.

The 76ers are 2-7 away from home this season as they enter the second game of a road trip. They are also trying to avoid a sixth consecutive road defeat, their longest skid since dropping 10 in 2006.

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